5 International Artists Under 35 to Watch Now

The next generation of contemporary artists is already reshaping the international art scene. From psychologically charged figurative painting to experimental approaches to abstraction, these five artists are building distinctive practices while attracting the attention of major galleries, institutions and collectors.

01 — Eva Helene Pade

Born in 1997 in Denmark and now based between Paris and London, Eva Helene Pade has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing young painters in Europe. Her cinematic compositions combine theatrical figures, fragmented narratives and intense color, creating scenes that feel suspended between memory, nightlife and dream. Her international momentum is growing rapidly: she is represented by Thaddaeus Ropac and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, and in 2026 achieved a new auction record in Hong Kong.

02 — Sasha Gordon

New York-based Sasha Gordon, born in 1998, has become one of the most recognizable young voices in contemporary figurative painting. Her large-scale oil paintings use her own body and likeness to explore identity, vulnerability and psychological experience. Surreal, intensely colored and technically precise, her paintings have already entered major institutional collections, while her career has been propelled by exhibitions at the ICA Miami and David Zwirner.

03 — Li Hei Di

Born in 1997, Chinese artist Li Hei Di is developing a highly distinctive language between abstraction, figuration and psychological space. Their paintings often dissolve bodies and environments into fluid, atmospheric compositions. Represented internationally by galleries including Pace and Michael Kohn Gallery, Li Hei Di is also attracting serious market attention: an important 2026 Hong Kong auction result reached more than $245,000.

04 — Ding Shilun

Ding Shilun represents a younger generation of Chinese painters whose work is increasingly entering the international collector conversation. His figurative paintings combine expressive brushwork with enigmatic scenes and a strong sense of contemporary psychology. His 2026 auction performance was particularly striking, with one work selling more than four times above its estimate — a result that places him firmly on the radar of collectors watching the next generation.

05 — Jadé Fadojutimi

Born in London in 1993, Jadé Fadojutimi has established herself as one of the most compelling painters of her generation. Her large-scale canvases move between abstraction, gesture and personal memory, creating energetic compositions that feel both intimate and monumental. Her trajectory demonstrates how quickly an artist can move from emerging talent to major international recognition — while remaining under 35.

The New Generation

What connects these five artists is not a single style, but a shared ability to make painting feel urgent again. Their careers also reflect a broader shift in the contemporary art market: collectors are increasingly looking beyond established names toward artists capable of developing significant long-term practices.

For The New Collectors, these are not simply artists to watch. They are artists to understand before the next chapter of their careers is written.